Rocks ensure home play-off - and title is still in sight

The Rocks celebrate an Alfie Rutherford goal against Wingate - and they were doing the same at Leiston / Picture by Tim Hale

Published:14:25Sunday 17 April 2016

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Bognor completed their fourth run of four straight wins inside a month to secure a top-three finish - and keep the Ryman premier title a possibility going into the final week of the season.

They are now guaranteed a home play-off semi-final at worst but if they win their last two, and leaders Hampton lose to play-off chasing Enfield next Saturday, it will come down to goal difference at the top.

Bognor have six goals to make up on Hampton in those last two matches.

Their first-ever win at Leiston came courtesy of second-half goals by Connor Tighe and Alfie Rutherford plus their fourth straight clean sheet.

Victory Road was a soggy spot to visit and the game had been threatened with being called off after heavy rain, but it survived and weren’t Bognor glad of it.

With Craig Robson still out through injury, Chad Field again started in defence. Doug Tuck and Dan Beck were in midfield as Gary Charman returned to the bench.

Early on Tighe tried a short pass into the area but couldn’t quite set up Rutherford.

At the other end Christy Finch failed to find any team-mate with a through pass.

Stuart Green teed up Harvey Whyte deep on the right and his cross was only just missed by the outstretched boot of Jason Prior just inside the box.

Beck’s cut-back to Prior led to his shot being blocked, but the flag was up for offside. Then Rutherford tried his luck, forcing goalkeeper Ashlee Jones into a good save.

On a pitch that was cutting up, Whyte’s ball to Rutherford won the Rocks a free-kick on 11 minutes. Beck’s kick was headed out to Tighe, whose deflected shot was saved.

Tighe’s neat cross was just too much for Rutherford and Tuck in the area.

Tighe won a corner on the right. Beck took it but Prior’s free header was stopped.